Coin Melt Value Calculator
The melt value of a coin is the worth of the precious metal it contains, ignoring any collector premium. Many circulating and bullion coins hold a known, published amount of silver, gold, or other metal, expressed in troy ounces. This coin melt value calculator multiplies that metal content by the current spot price per troy ounce to give the melt value. For coins that are not pure metal, the metal content already reflects the alloy: a US 90 percent silver dime, for instance, contains a specific fraction of a troy ounce of pure silver, and that fraction is what you enter. The spot price is left editable because precious metal prices move continuously through each trading day, so use a current quote. The result is the intrinsic metal value, which sets a floor under a common coin's worth but ignores any numismatic premium for rarity or condition. Every figure here is computed deterministically from your inputs, so the same coin and price always return the same melt value. Enter the metal content and spot price below to find a coin's intrinsic value, compare it to a dealer's offer, or value a roll of coins, with a worked example that reconciles to the calculator defaults.
Melt value equals the coin's metal content in troy ounces times the metal spot price per troy ounce. A coin holding 0.7234 troy oz of silver at a 30.00 dollar spot price has a 21.70 dollar melt value.
Coin melt value formula
melt value = metal content (troy oz) x spot price per troy oz
metal content is the pure precious metal in one coin
spot price in currency per troy ounce
The metal content already accounts for the coin's purity, giving the pure precious metal in troy ounces. Multiplying by the spot price per troy ounce gives the intrinsic melt value, before any collector premium.
Worked example
Take a coin that contains 0.7234 troy ounces of pure silver, with a silver spot price of 30 dollars per troy ounce.
- Metal content: 0.7234 troy oz of silver
- Melt value: 0.7234 x 30 = 21.70 dollars (rounded to the cent)
The coin's melt value is 21.70 dollars, which matches the calculator's default inputs exactly. A rare or graded coin can be worth far more than its melt value.
Coin Melt Value Calculator: frequently asked questions
What is melt value?
Melt value is the worth of the raw precious metal in a coin if it were melted down, found by multiplying the metal content by the spot price. It ignores any collector or numismatic premium, so it sets a price floor for common coins but understates the value of rare ones.
How do I find a coin's metal content?
Published references and mint specifications list the precious metal content of standard coins in troy ounces. For example, common 90 percent silver US coins have well-documented silver weights. Enter the pure metal content for your specific coin and metal.
What is a troy ounce?
A troy ounce is the standard unit for weighing precious metals, equal to about 31.1035 grams, which is heavier than the common avoirdupois ounce. Spot prices for gold and silver are quoted per troy ounce, so coin metal content is given in troy ounces too.
Should I melt a coin for its metal?
Often no. Many coins are worth more to collectors than their melt value, and melting certain coins may be restricted. Melt value is most useful for common bullion or heavily worn coins whose numismatic value is at or below their metal content.
Does the spot price change?
Yes, constantly. Gold and silver spot prices move throughout each trading day, so the melt value changes with them. Always enter the current spot price per troy ounce when you calculate, and treat the result as a snapshot at that price.
Official sources
- Coin metal content and precious-metal specifications: US Mint. As at 25 June 2026.
Reviewed by the CalculatorHub team, edited by James Graham, 25 June 2026. See our methodology. This is general information, not financial, tax, legal or investment advice.